The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-11-05
The ANSWER.

JESUS did not send direct answer to Johns
himself the Messiah. The people were not
prepared, as John himself was not, to under
stand his claim, and under the circumstances
such declaration would hinder rather than
forward the progress of his kingdom. The
Jews looked for king to deliver and govern
their nation. JESUS came kiugly soul to
rule by his truth and life in the hearts of men,
and to deliver the people of all nations into
the liberty of the children of GoD. When
before PLATE, the Roman governor, on
false charge that he claimed to be king of
the Jews, he did declare, by indirectiou, that
he was a king, he Immediately explained
that his kingdom was not worldly one, like
the Roman empire, or the kingdom of Israel
even, but it was a realm of truth. His king
dom could only be truthfally declared by its
progress, and his authority and the identity
of his mission by his works-the result of his
ministry and influence. Go tell John what
you hear and see," he said to the messengers
who came with the question from their
imprisoned master. Luke relates that at
the time of their visit he wrought many
works of healing, giving sight to many blind,
etc., viii. 21). He had Immediately before
raised to life the widows son at Main. "Blind
people receive their sight, lame people walk,
lepers are cleansed, deaf people hear, dead
people are raised, and good news [the gos-
pell is preached to poor people," were emu
merated among the things to be related to
John. These were among the prophetic re-
suits of the Messiah and bis time isaiah
xxxv. 8; Xxi. ~. By these facts John was to
be convinced that the prophets were being
fulfilled in him. JESUS appeals to his mir
aculous works of healing and mercy as evil
dences of his Messiahship, but emphasis ia
evidently placed upon the fact that the poor
have good tidings proclaimed to Them" The
religious teachers of the ancient world, jew
ish as we'll as Gentle, despised and neglected
the poor and unfortunate, who constituted
.hs mass of the common people, the multi
tude or "rabble," as they were called (John
viii. 40. The prophets predicted an era of
universal blessedness, in which the afflicted
and the needy would be especially blessed.
In their representations they undoubtedly
employed benefcent physical effects as sym
bols of spiritual blessings. JESUS declared
himself to be the fulfillment of these proph-
ecies (Luke iv. 17-21). There are those that
think that JESUS described to John the spir-
itual effects of his ministry in the symbolic
language of the Old Testament prophets.
But there can hardly be a doubt that the
Evangelists who made the record under
stood him to have referred to his miraculous
IaI
his inspiring words and popular ministry.
The miracles of JESUS may have been both
signs of his Messiahship and symbols of his
mission as the true Messiah of GoD. The
miracles JESUS light, the healing of the
infirm and diseased, aud the restoration of
the dead to life, are truly seal OF his Mes-
siahship; but the abundant proof of his in
SEPARATION and the fulfiilment of prophecy in
him, is the proclamation of good tidings Of
good, and the announcement of salvation for
human souls by his spiritually attractive
force.
The messengers were instructed to relate
| to John what they themselves had heard and
seen, and not the report of JESUS and his
ministry that had gone abroad, and which
John had doubtless already heard. He must
be convinced by their own personal observa-
ton and testimony. The most convincing
evidence of Christianity to-day is our own
, personal knowledge and observation of its
power and progress in blessing the genera
| tions of mankind that now dwell upon the
earth, rather than any report of its Divine
power and progress contained in either his
| tory or Scripture. We must first hear and
/ perceive for ourselves before We shall be
thoroughly convinced and signally and per
sonally blessed by our faith in the CHRIST
and enjoyment of his heavenly kingdom.
The evident reference to Isaiah *. l, would
undoubtedly bring to Johns remembrance q
passage not contained in JESUS message
"He hath sent me to bind up the broken.
hearted, to proclaim liberty TO the captives
and the opening of the prison to them thai
are bound." JESUS himself warns John moi
to stumble in his faith because of the process;
of events in the progress of the kingdom Of
IN ~